Apprentice Blacksmith ( Welder /Fabricator)

Blacksmith / Welder / Fabricator Apprenticeship — Course Title: Blacksmith SVQ Level 3.

Location: Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

Contract Type: Fixed Term Apprenticeship.

Salary: Offering the nationally agreed apprentice pay rates, plus excellent company benefits. You will be paid for your normal working hours plus your attendance at college.

To be successful with your application you must live in a North Lanarkshire postcode.

Training Provider - ECITB - New College Lanarkshire - Motherwell.

Start Date - 3 August 2026 (Provisional).

Course Length: approximately 3 years.

Entry Criteria for roles - No formal qualifications required / Pre-apprenticeship / Potential to work towards SVQ level 6 & 7. Candidates will undertake a pre-employment assessment and interview.

About apprenticeships at Mears Group: Apprenticeships are an underpinning part of Mears' philosophy; we are committed to developing the next generation of our workforce. Many of our most senior people started their working life as an apprentice. Whether you are fresh out of school or college, or looking for a complete career change, Mears can offer you a strong foundation for your future career and beyond.

All apprentices are paid the National Apprentice minimum wage, and you will be paid for your normal working hours plus your attendance at college with the opportunity to gain real life experiences, such as working in people's homes, getting involved in community projects and improving people's lives by being customer focused.

What does a life as a Blacksmith / Welder / Fabricator look like? A Blacksmith / Welder / Fabricator works in a range of environments including workshops, construction sites, residential properties, commercial buildings, and industrial settings. The role involves fabricating, repairing, and installing metal components and structures using a variety of welding and fabrication techniques. You will work with steel and other metals to manufacture items such as gates, railings, staircases, structural supports, and bespoke metalwork, while ensuring all work meets quality, safety, and specification requirements.

Apprenticeship course content: The apprenticeship course will cover the following:

• Develop and maintain good working relationships
• Read and interpret technical drawings and specifications
• Health & safety within a workshop and site environment
• Measure, mark out, cut, and form metal components
• Welding processes (MIG, TIG, and ARC)
• Fabrication and assembly of metal structures
• Use of hand tools, power tools, and fabrication machinery
• Installation and repair of metalwork on site
• Quality control and finishing of fabricated components

What do you need to be a successful applicant:

• The potential to work at SCQF level 6/7
• The ability and desire to learn and develop a thorough knowledge of metal fabrication, welding techniques, and safety procedures
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to establish and maintain good customer/client relationships
• Candidates will undertake a pre-employment assessment
• You must live within a North Lanarkshire postcode and be able to independently travel to and from the branch

What will I learn through the apprenticeship programme? With 30 years' experience of delivering market-leading repairs and maintenance services, Mears is trusted to deliver more than 6,000 repairs daily to a portfolio of more than 1,000,000 homes nationwide. The Mears Careers National Apprenticeship Scheme is designed to empower and challenge you. You will be trusted with real work and responsibility from the outset. During your apprenticeship, you will earn while you learn, receiving formal college training alongside hands-on experience working with skilled tradespeople who will mentor and develop your practical skills.

We are looking for people with integrity who are self-reliant, highly motivated, and take pride in their work - individuals who are willing to get involved, solve problems, and continually improve.

What you will get:

• Access to our wide range of colleague benefits at Mears Group, designed to save you money and support your wellbeing
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Annual Mears Fun Day - our annual Fun Day is organized as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work
• Chromebook provided - to support your studies
• Tools - we will help fund your first set of work tools
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more

Application Process: All applicants must submit their CV and complete the apprenticeship questionnaire via the Mears Careers website. If shortlisted, you will be contacted to confirm whether you have been selected for the next stage - this may be an assessment centre or an individual interview. Please note: as part of the selection process, you will be required to complete a basic maths and English test, similar to the assessments needed to join the college. All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship. To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21, have held your licence over 3 months and have less than 9 points. Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way. At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.

Closing date for applications: 8 March 2026.